title: Eructophilia in bulimia nervosa: a clinical feature.
abstract: This report offers the first detailed description of repetitive eructation (belching) in a patient with bulimia nervosa. The case was a man in his 30's with bulimia nervosa characterized by daily bingeing and purging behavior. Detailed assessment revealed repetitive eructation which was construed as a learned behavior precipitated and maintained by aerophagia (air swallowing) secondary to regular binge-eating. Eructation was associated with a strong sense of "relief" that shared a common phenomenology with other purging behaviors. Repetitive eructation was addressed as part of outpatient treatment using a cognitive-therapy approach. Eructation became less frequent during outpatient treatment but the patient disengaged after six sessions. We define a new term "eructophilia" where repetitive eructation takes on an ego-syntonic, self-contained, and autonomous quality which serves as a reinforcing stimulus in itself. Issues of phenomenology and motivating factors are further discussed.
authors.affiliation: Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders, Leeds Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Leeds, UK. wrjones79@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004884:Eructation / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome